SOFREP Daily: US Expands NATO Missile Shield, Biden Sends Last-Minute Support, West Bank Settlers Anticipate Trump’s Backing

Good Morning! Today’s Top Intel: Defense and global affairs insights to keep you updated this Thursday, November 14.

US, NATO Expands Missile Shield in Poland

The United States and Poland inaugurated and opened a NATO missile defense base in northern Poland on Wednesday, and it’s a pretty big deal.

While the official line is that this base is designed to protect against ballistic threats from places like Iran, Poland sees it as a crucial shield against Russian aggression—especially with the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia, of course, isn’t thrilled and has already fired back, calling the base a challenge to its military strength.

Polish leaders, on the other hand, call this a historic moment that solidified the presence of the US and NATO in the region.

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Today, @NATO leaders gathered to celebrate the new Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System’s ribbon cutting for the transfer of authority to #NATO at Naval Support Facility Redzikowo, Poland.

(1/2) pic.twitter.com/YWmZBMcD1v

— U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet (@USNavyEurope) November 13, 2024

With advanced tech like the AEGIS Ashore system, the base is a powerful addition to NATO’s defenses.

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said at the ceremony in Redzikowo that this missile defense base “is strategically the most important thing.”

“The whole world will see clearly that this is not Russia’s sphere of interest anymore,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to push back, claiming this is all about containing their military power.

US, Canada, Finland Sign Trilateral Pact To Strengthen Arctic Alliance

The US, Canada, and Finland are teaming up to tackle the Arctic, signing a big new agreement on Wednesday under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact initiative.

This collaboration is all about boosting Arctic security and keeping vital resources out of the hands of rivals like Russia and China.

At a ceremony in DC, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and officials from Canada and Finland highlighted the importance of Arctic resources for national security and economic stability.

The new pact focuses on sharing intel, developing skilled workforces, and creating cutting-edge Arctic icebreakers.

Last week, @us_arctic Ambassador Mike Sfraga visited Finland to discuss 🇺🇸 🇫🇮 shared Arctic priorities, including the ICE Pact with 🇨🇦 and the MOU signed yesterday in Washington, DC. On his final day, he toured the @ArctiaLtd Polaris icebreaker to learn more about Finland’s… pic.twitter.com/7fQH0aagQU

— U.S. Embassy Finland (@usembfinland) November 14, 2024

With Russia leading the world in icebreaker production, this move couldn’t come at a better time.

Finland, known for its top-notch icebreaker shipbuilding, will bring expertise that could save the US and Canada major money and time.

Officials stressed that Arctic readiness isn’t just about business—it’s a matter of global security. By working together, these nations aim to stay ahead in the high-stakes Arctic game.

Biden Administration Sends Ukraine Last-Minute Support

The Biden administration is pulling out all the stops in its final stretch, determined to send Ukraine as much support as possible before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the urgency on Wednesday, saying every available dollar will go toward helping Ukraine fend off Russia’s relentless invasion.

With the war showing no signs of slowing down, Blinken urged NATO to ensure Ukraine has the resources to keep fighting or negotiate peace from a position of strength.

Meanwhile, political uncertainty looms as Trump has hinted at cutting back aid to Kyiv.

On the ground, Ukraine is holding off a fierce Russian offensive in Donetsk while also dealing with a fresh wave of airstrikes.

Russia hit Kyiv for the first time in 73 days, using a mix of missiles and drones.

To add to the chaos, North Korean troops are now in the mix, helping Russia in the Kursk region where Ukraine has held its ground for months, embarrassing the Kremlin.

Trump Eyes Alabama for Space Command HQ

The US Space Command tug-of-war is heating up again.

President-elect Trump is gearing up to overturn a Biden decision and move the US Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama, a move he originally pushed for during his first term.

According to Rep. Mike Rogers in a radio interview on Monday, Trump plans to make this switch in his first week back in office.

If you’ve been following this development, the battle over Space Command’s location has been a political rollercoaster.

Biden had announced in 2023 that the HQ would stay in Colorado, reversing Trump’s 2021 decision to relocate it to Huntsville, Alabama. That move triggered multiple investigations, with Colorado lawmakers crying foul over a sketchy selection process.

“I think you’ll see in the first week that he’s in office, he’ll sign an executive order reversing Biden’s directive,” said Rogers.

Now, Alabama is back in the spotlight, with Rogers confident the upcoming probes will back Huntsville as the right choice.

“I told everybody then, that Colorado Springs will not be the future location of Space Command,” Rogers said Monday on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5. “It will be Huntsville, Alabama who won it fair and square.” https://t.co/uaWoXdIBPZ

— AL.com (@aldotcom) November 14, 2024

Meanwhile, Colorado’s Sen. Michael Bennet is digging in, calling his state the best home for Space Command, citing its superior infrastructure and quality of life for military families.

Adding fuel to the fire, there’s concern about service members’ reproductive rights if the base moves from Colorado, where abortion is legal, to Alabama, where it’s heavily restricted.

With Trump’s return and potential Republican control of Congress, the Alabama move seems almost certain. But if Democrats take back Congress in two years, they could hit the brakes—though by then, stopping construction might be more hassle than it’s worth.

Israel Limits Gaza Supplies

Last month, the US gave Israel 30 days to improve humanitarian aid into Gaza or risk losing military support.

Now that the deadline’s up, the Biden administration isn’t following through with penalties despite aid groups saying things have barely improved.

Food, medicine, and supplies are trickling in at historically low levels.

While Israel claims to have stepped up, aid organizations say access is still a nightmare, with truckloads of goods sitting at border crossings and military restrictions slowing everything down.

We remain committed to supporting humanitarian aid delivery through land, sea and air routes in collaboration with international partners.

Humanitarian aid from the @UAEmediaoffice, is entering Gaza through the Erez West Crossing. 15 trucks loaded with goods from the UAE’s… pic.twitter.com/J0qTTf0CmO

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) November 14, 2024

In northern Gaza, where the fighting is intense, hardly any aid has reached those in desperate need.

The situation is a mess. Criminal gangs are hijacking shipments, and aid drivers are often left to fend for themselves.

Israel argues it’s blocking supplies that could be used by Hamas, but aid groups say the lack of coordination and constant roadblocks are putting millions of lives at risk.

As one relief worker put it, Gaza is on the brink of famine, and time is running out.

“Even though we have provided all the evidence that there is a risk of famine … still the US miraculously finds Israel not violating the humanitarian aid law,” a relief worker told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

West Bank Settlers Anticipate Trump’s Backing for Annexation

When Trump’s election win became clear, West Bank settlement supporters wasted no time celebrating, popping champagne and dancing to the Bee Gees.

According to reports on Thursday, these supporters have been hopeful that with Trump back in the White House, their long-time goal of annexing the West Bank could finally become a reality.

During his first term, Trump gave unprecedented support to Israel’s territorial claims, recognizing Jerusalem as its capital and backing Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights.

Now, advocates are counting on him to push further despite the international outcry that annexation would destroy any chance of a Palestinian state.

Israeli leaders like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are already rallying for “sovereignty in Judea and Samaria” by 2025.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s government is packed with pro-settlement hardliners ready to push forward.

Critics argue annexation would solidify accusations of apartheid unless Palestinians in these areas are granted equal rights—a step Israel opposes.

With settlement expansion already on the rise during the war and Trump’s history of leniency, settlers anticipate a green light to deepen their hold on the territory.

But there’s a wildcard: Trump’s focus on normalizing ties between Israel and countries like Saudi Arabia could shift the dynamics, potentially tempering his support for full annexation.

Either way, settlement advocates believe they’re poised for a significant win.